Kotka facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kotka
City
Kotkan kaupunki Kotka stad City of Kotka
Kotka in July 2019
Coat of arms
Location of Kotka in Finland
Country	Finland
Region	Kymenlaakso
Sub-region	Kotka-Hamina sub-region
Charter	16 July 1879
Area  (2018-01-01)
• Total	949.77 km2 (366.71 sq mi)
• Land	272.13 km2 (105.07 sq mi)
• Water	678.45 km2 (261.95 sq mi)
Area rank	239th largest in Finland
Population  (2023-12-31)
• Total	50,500
• Rank	21st largest in Finland
• Density	185.57/km2 (480.6/sq mi)
Population by native language
• Finnish	88.5% (official)
• Swedish	1%
• Others	10.6%
Population by age
• 0 to 14	13.1%
• 15 to 64	59.2%
• 65 or older	27.7%
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Postal code	48400
Climate	Dfb

Kotka is a city in Finland. It is located on the southeastern coast, right where the Kymi River meets the sea. The name "Kotka" means "eagle" in Finnish.

Kotka is an important port city and a center for industry. It is part of the Kymenlaakso region. The city center of Kotka is on an island called Kotkansaari, which means "Island of Kotka". A main road, Finnish national road 7 (E18), connects Kotka to Helsinki in the west and St. Petersburg, Russia in the east.

Kotka has a population of about 51,000 people. It is one of the largest cities in Finland. The city is officially Finnish-speaking. Most people speak Finnish as their first language.

City Symbols: Kotka's Coat of Arms

The older coat of arms of Kotka from the 19th century

Kotka has a special symbol called a coat of arms. The current coat of arms shows a golden eagle with its wings raised. It also has a silver anchor and a caduceus, which is a staff with two snakes.

The eagle refers to the city's name, "Kotka." The anchor shows that Kotka is an important port town. The caduceus represents trade, industry, and sea travel. The first coat of arms was made in 1881. The current one was designed in 1957 to meet modern heraldic rules.

Kotka's Past: A Brief History

The bridge of Kotka burnt on 26 July 1855, during naval warfare

Kotka was officially established as a city on July 16, 1879. Before that, the area was part of an older parish called Kymi. The islands of Kotkansaari and Hovinsaari became the new city.

For a long time, Swedish was an official language in Kotka. This changed in 1902. Today, only about 1% of the people in Kotka speak Swedish. There is still one Swedish-speaking school in the city, called Kotka Svenska Samskola, which opened in 1885.

Kotka was one of the first places in Finland to become very industrial. Paper and pulp factories were, and still are, big employers. In recent years, some factories have changed. This has led to some job changes in the city.

People of Kotka: Population and Languages

Population Growth Over Time

Kotka has about 50,500 residents. This makes it the 21st largest municipality in Finland. The wider Kotka-Hamina area has even more people. About 10.9% of Kotka's population has a foreign background.

Languages Spoken in Kotka

Population by mother tongue (2023)      Finnish (88.5%)     Russian (5.2%)     Swedish (1.0%)     Estonian (0.7%)     Ukrainian (0.6%)     Arabic (0.4%)     English (0.4%)     Other (3.3%)

Kotka is mainly a Finnish-speaking city. Most people, about 88.5% of the population, speak Finnish as their first language.

About 0.95% of people in Kotka speak Swedish. Many people also speak other languages. At least 30 different languages are spoken in Kotka. The most common foreign languages are Russian, Estonian, and Ukrainian.

People from Other Countries

Population by country of birth (2022)
Nationality	Population	%
Finland	46,078	91.0
Soviet Union	1,678	3.3
Russia	434	0.9
Estonia	311	0.6
Iraq	142	0.3
Sweden	132	0.3
Thailand	115	0.2
Turkey	90	0.2
Afghanistan	79	0.2
United Kingdom	75	0.1
China	68	0.1
Other	1,451	2.8

In 2023, there were over 5,500 people in Kotka who had a migrant background. This means about 10.9% of the population. Many people living in Kotka were born outside Finland. Most of these people came from the former Soviet Union, Russia, Estonia, and Iraq.

Religion in Kotka

In 2023, the largest religious group in Kotka was the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. About 59.9% of the people belonged to this church. Other religious groups made up 3.0% of the population. A large number of people, 37.2%, did not have a religious affiliation.

Kotka's Economy: How People Make a Living

Kotka is an important city for jobs and business. The biggest employers in Kotka include the City of Kotka itself. Another major employer is Kymsote, which provides social and health services. Steveco, a company related to the port, is also a big employer.

Many people in Kotka work in social services. Local industry is also a very important part of the economy. The Port of Kotka plays a big role in trade for both Finland and Russia.

Exploring Kotka: Architecture and Culture

Kotka Maritime Festival (Kotkan meripäivät) in 2008

Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge

St. Nicholas Church in Kotka

Kotka has many interesting buildings and cultural places to visit.

Museums and Buildings

• Maritime Centre Vellamo: This is a large building that houses several museums. You can find the Maritime Museum of Finland here, which tells stories about the sea. There's also the Museum of Kymenlaakso, which shows the history of the region. The Coast Guard Museum is also located here. Vellamo has classrooms, meeting rooms, and a restaurant.
• Kymenlaakso Museum: This museum is inside Maritime Centre Vellamo. It collects items and photos from the Kymenlaakso region since the 1920s. It also helps protect old buildings.
• Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge: This is a special museum and fishing lodge by the River Kymijoki. Emperor Alexander III of Russia loved this spot. He had a small fishing lodge built here in 1888. It's a popular place to visit today.
• Maretarium Aquarium: Opened in 2002, this aquarium is on Kotka Island. It focuses on showing Finnish fish species and water environments. You can see about 60 different types of fish from Finland here. It also has a nature school and a souvenir shop.
• St. Nicholas Church: This old church is in the center of Kotka. It was built between 1799 and 1801. It is the oldest building in the city. Its design has pillars and a bell tower.

Beautiful Parks in Kotka

A small waterfall in the Sapokka Watergarden

Kotka is famous for its many beautiful parks and green areas. You can take a walk to see several of them:

• Sapokka Watergarden: This park has won many international awards. It's like a green oasis in the city. It features different plants, water elements, stones, and special lighting.
• Katariina Seaside Park: This is a large outdoor area by the sea. It used to be an oil loading port, but now it's a lovely place for recreation.
• Sculpture Promenade: This is Finland's largest outdoor art gallery. New sculptures are added to it almost every year.

Local Flavors: Food in Kotka

Kotka has some traditional dishes that people enjoy. These include Baltic herring, salmon soup, and a type of head cheese. They also have "lanttujyrkkö," which are turnip potatoes, and "ryynipiirakka," a groat pie. A popular sweet treat in Kotka is deep-fried doughnuts called "possos."

Sports in Kotka

The rugby union team Griffins RFC Kotka playing in the Rugby-7 Tournament in 2013

Kotka has a strong sports scene.

• Football: The local football team is KTP. They were founded in 1927. KTP has won the Finnish football championship twice, in 1951 and 1952. They have also won the Finnish Cup four times.
• Basketball: The KTP-Basket team plays in the top Finnish basketball league, Korisliiga.
• Rugby: There is also a rugby club called Griffins RFC.

Famous People from Kotka

Kotka is home to many notable people. These include athletes, artists, and politicians.

Sister Cities: Kotka Around the World

Kotka has sister cities in different countries. These partnerships help build friendships and cultural exchange.

Images for kids

• 

  Teemu Pukki

• 

  Awak Kuier

See also

In Spanish: Kotka para niños